And They Are Off!

The great departure was Sunday 5/27/2007 at approximately 10:30 am PDT. It was really something to see all the planning and preparation come together and watch them drive away. Lee called yesterday morning, they had an uneventful border crossing, but did have the misfortune of running out of gas. It seems the little town where we've filled up in the past has closed down both their gas stations. Alas, they didn't quite make it to the next stop. Some kind hearted Canadians (as is our experience with most we have met) picked Lee up, drove him to town and back.

I expect that they began the first 'mini-expedition' of the trip kayaking around the Bowron Lakes circuit today and will emerge sometime next week. I'm thinking of them as I look outside at the beautiful weather here and wish I were paddling along with them!

Until next time,

lori

The Final Push!

With Lee away all week on a business trip to Vancouver, BC, there were many things to accomplish. He was up at the crack of dawn getting the toy house washed and waxed. All the gear had to be loaded, the kayaks, bikes and all the accessories, before heading out on the big trip. It has been a very busy day and at 10:30 pm we are just at the point where we can end for the day. We'll load up the clothes in the morning and Lee and Johann will leave port.

Absence Makes the Heart Fonder

Lori is a very understanding wife and a great mother. She calls us her boys and treats us better than we deserve at times. Her patience is only bested by her love for us. Lori has been very supportive of the expeditionary trip every step of the way and has been an active participant in helping us prepare, She is as excited as we are. When asked by others "how can you let this happen?... or won't you miss them?" she replies that opprotunities like this are very rare and should not be passed by. She feels very strongly about fathers and the time they spend with their sons. Lori not only supports us fully, she encourages us to go. She is an integral part of the RubiKon team. We could never pull this off without her support and love. We are hoping Lori can join us later in the trip. We will miss her dearly.

Departure Date: May 26, 2007

Great Group Therapy for Old Homes

If you own a Toyota Motorhome, you need to join this group. Many thanks to all that helped us get our Toy house expedition worthy, These folks are the "A-Team" in the world of Toy campers.

Departure Date: May 26th, 2007

Goodbye Friend

Our hearts and souls are filled with sadness today as we had to say goodbye to one of our most beloved family members. Cali has climbed more peaks, hiked on more glaciers and gone on more expeditionary trips than most people we know. She greeted everyone with joy, treated every creature she met with kindness and asked for nothing in return... except for a nice back rub, a massage behind her ear or an invite to swim in a high mountain lake. Her sweet disposition, silly grins and eagerness to explore will be missed dearly. She touched everyone who met her. Her heart and spirit will be with us always in every mountain we climb, every trail that we hike and in every adventure we partake. Cali is a perfect illustration that life is a journey; not a destination.

We dedicate our trip to her enduring spirit and enthusiasm
(Caliente "Cali" Feb 15, 1993 - April 23, 2007)

Information Age

In searching the internet for information on the Chilkoot Trail and Kayaking the Yukon River, I came across Dick Postma's website. I sent Dick an email with many questions. Dick was kind enough to call me and give me the skinny on his adventures, precautions and gear. Dick is a retired LA Policeman. As such, not much scares him, he did however, reveal to me that he wished he had taken a rifle on his Yukon River Adventure to provide that extra level of comfort with the bears. He witnessed a couple of bears ripping apart a canoe at a camp at one point in his Yukon river journey. Thanks for the phone call and the info Dick. Much appreciated. Check out his website... good reading. http://www.qnet.com/~dpostma/

Departure Date: May 26, 2007

"RubiKon Warrior"

Last September we purchased a used 21' V6 Toyota Motor home. The reasons are obvious, they're inexpensive to obtain, very economical, legendary reliability, 14-17 mpg and parts are readily obtainable... need we say more? To get her "expedition worthy" we made some modifications such as: re-enforcing the rear frame; a custom rack for a stow box and 2 bikes; a roof rack for the boats; removed the roof air (who needs air cond in the North?) and added amenities such as a flat panel TV display and new stereo. She is 14 years old, w/29K original miles. We store her in an airplane hangar during the wintery PacNW months. The picture shows the metamorphosis she has under gone in our preparations, including pics in her former desert home and her new home in the PacificNW... and yes, that meant driving in the snow a few times. An absolute cutie; she will be the hub of our existence and we are counting on her to get us there and back with no problems.

Departure Date: May 26, 2007